Patents by Inventor Thomas Nathaniel Tombs

Thomas Nathaniel Tombs has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9635755
    Abstract: A method of making a folded micro-wire substrate structure includes providing a transparent flexible substrate having a first side and a second side opposed to the first side. The flexible substrate has a first portion and a second portion adjacent to the first portion of the flexible substrate. One or more electrical conductors and one or more electrical components are formed on or in the flexible substrate. At least one optical element is formed on or in the flexible substrate in the second portion. The flexible substrate is folded with a first fold between the first and second portions so that the first portion is aligned with the second portion in a perpendicular direction and the optical element directs light to or from the electrical component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Ronald Steven Cok, Thomas Nathaniel Tombs
  • Patent number: 9603240
    Abstract: A method of making a folded micro-wire substrate structure includes providing a flexible substrate and first, second, and third portions. One or more electrical conductors are formed on or in the flexible substrate. The flexible substrate is folded with a first fold between the first and second portions so that the first portion is located adjacent to the second portion in a perpendicular direction. The flexible substrate is folded with at least a second fold between the second and third portions so that the second side is between the second portion and the third portion in the perpendicular direction. The folded flexible substrate is secured to form the folded micro-wire substrate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Ronald Steven Cok, Thomas Nathaniel Tombs
  • Patent number: 9516744
    Abstract: A method of making a micro-wire circuit structure adapted for wrapping includes providing a display and a flexible substrate. The flexible substrate includes a plurality of electrically conductive micro-wires on, in, or adjacent to a common side of the flexible substrate and forming micro-wire electrodes in a touch portion of the flexible substrate. One or more electrical circuits is located on or in a circuit portion of the flexible substrate and one or more micro-wires electrically connects the one or more electrical circuits to corresponding micro-wire electrodes. The flexible substrate is located in relation to the display with the touch portion located adjacent to a display viewing side, the circuit portion located adjacent to a display back side, and an edge portion of the flexible substrate wrapping around a display edge from the display viewing side to the display back side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Nathaniel Tombs, Ronald Steven Cok, Christopher R. Morton
  • Publication number: 20150346858
    Abstract: A folded micro-wire substrate structure includes a transparent folded flexible substrate having a first side and a second side opposed to the first side. The flexible substrate has a first portion and a second portion adjacent to the first portion of the flexible substrate. The flexible substrate has at least a first fold between the first and second portions so that the first portion is aligned with the second portion in a perpendicular direction. One or more electrical conductors is located in or on the flexible substrate, at least one electrical component is located on or in the flexible substrate in the first portion. At least one optical element is located on or in the flexible substrate in the second portion located so that the optical element directs light to or from the electrical component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Ronald Steven Cok, Thomas Nathaniel Tombs
  • Publication number: 20150351220
    Abstract: A method of making a folded micro-wire substrate structure includes providing a flexible substrate and first, second, and third portions. One or more electrical conductors are formed on or in the flexible substrate. The flexible substrate is folded with a first fold between the first and second portions so that the first portion is located adjacent to the second portion in a perpendicular direction. The flexible substrate is folded with at least a second fold between the second and third portions so that the second side is between the second portion and the third portion in the perpendicular direction. The folded flexible substrate is secured to form the folded micro-wire substrate structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Ronald Steven Cok, Thomas Nathaniel Tombs
  • Publication number: 20150346876
    Abstract: A folded micro-wire substrate structure includes a folded flexible substrate having a first side and a second side opposed to the first side. The flexible substrate has a first portion, a second portion adjacent to the first portion, and a third portion adjacent to the second portion so that the second portion is between the first and third portions of the flexible substrate. The flexible substrate has at least a first fold between the first and second portions so that the first portion is adjacent to the second portion in a perpendicular direction. The flexible substrate has at least a second fold between the second and third portions so that the second side is between the second and third portions in the perpendicular direction and one or more electrical conductors are located in or on the flexible substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Ronald Steven Cok, Thomas Nathaniel Tombs
  • Publication number: 20150351232
    Abstract: A method of making a folded micro-wire substrate structure includes providing a transparent flexible substrate having a first side and a second side opposed to the first side. The flexible substrate has a first portion and a second portion adjacent to the first portion of the flexible substrate. One or more electrical conductors and one or more electrical components are formed on or in the flexible substrate. At least one optical element is formed on or in the flexible substrate in the second portion. The flexible substrate is folded with a first fold between the first and second portions so that the first portion is aligned with the second portion in a perpendicular direction and the optical element directs light to or from the electrical component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Ronald Steven Cok, Thomas Nathaniel Tombs
  • Patent number: 9195358
    Abstract: A folded micro-wire substrate structure includes a transparent folded flexible substrate having a first side and a second side opposed to the first side. The flexible substrate has a first portion and a second portion adjacent to the first portion of the flexible substrate. The flexible substrate has at least a first fold between the first and second portions so that the first portion is aligned with the second portion in a perpendicular direction. One or more electrical conductors is located in or on the flexible substrate, at least one electrical component is located on or in the flexible substrate in the first portion. At least one optical element is located on or in the flexible substrate in the second portion located so that the optical element directs light to or from the electrical component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Ronald Steven Cok, Thomas Nathaniel Tombs
  • Publication number: 20150305138
    Abstract: A method of making a micro-wire circuit structure adapted for wrapping includes providing a display and a flexible substrate. The flexible substrate includes a plurality of electrically conductive micro-wires on, in, or adjacent to a common side of the flexible substrate and forming micro-wire electrodes in a touch portion of the flexible substrate. One or more electrical circuits is located on or in a circuit portion of the flexible substrate and one or more micro-wires electrically connects the one or more electrical circuits to corresponding micro-wire electrodes. The flexible substrate is located in relation to the display with the touch portion located adjacent to a display viewing side, the circuit portion located adjacent to a display back side, and an edge portion of the flexible substrate wrapping around a display edge from the display viewing side to the display back side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: THOMAS NATHANIEL TOMBS, Ronald Steven Cok, Christopher R. Morton
  • Publication number: 20150305147
    Abstract: A micro-wire circuit structure adapted for wrapping includes a display and a flexible substrate. The flexible substrate includes a plurality of electrically conductive micro-wires formed on, in, or adjacent to a common side of the flexible substrate. One or more electrical circuits is located on or in a circuit portion of the flexible substrate and electrically connect to corresponding micro-wire electrodes in a touch portion of the flexible substrate. The flexible substrate is located in relation to the display with the touch portion located adjacent to a display viewing side, the circuit portion located adjacent to a display back side, and an edge portion of the flexible substrate wrapping around a display edge side from the display viewing side to the display back side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Nathaniel Tombs, Ronald Steven Cok, Christopher R. Morton
  • Patent number: 9127884
    Abstract: An acoustic air impingement drying system is provided for drying a material. An inlet chamber receives air from an airflow source provides air at a supply flow rate. A plurality of acoustic resonant chambers are provided, each having an inlet slot that receives air from the inlet chamber and an outlet slot that directs air onto the material, wherein the acoustic resonant chambers impart acoustic energy to the transiting air, the outlet slots being oriented at an oblique angle relative to the width dimension of the pneumatic transducer unit. A plurality of exhaust air channels interspersed between the outlet slots remove the air directed onto the material by the acoustic resonant chambers. A blower pulls air through the exhaust air channels at an exhaust flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Inventors: Andrew Ciaschi, James Douglas Shifley, Rodney Ray Bucks, Thomas Nathaniel Tombs
  • Patent number: 9045664
    Abstract: A method of printing an image on a receiver includes receiving image data for the image. A processor automatically produces data for a polymer pattern and a salt pattern using the image data. A polymer is deposited on the receiver according to the polymer pattern using a polymer-deposition unit. A salt is deposited on the receiver according to the salt pattern using a salt-deposition unit different from the polymer-deposition unit. Liquid ink is deposited on the receiver according to the image data using an inkjet print engine, and at least some of the ink is deposited over the deposited polymer or the deposited salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventor: Thomas Nathaniel Tombs
  • Patent number: 8931891
    Abstract: An inkjet printing system, comprising: one or more inkjet printheads for printing drops of ink onto a receiver medium, and an acoustic air impingement drying system positioned in proximity to at least one of the inkjet printheads. The acoustic air impingement drying system includes: an airflow source providing a supply flow rate; an acoustic resonant chamber having an inlet slot that receives air from the airflow source and an outlet slot that directs air onto the receiver medium; an exhaust air channel for removing the air directed onto the receiver medium by the acoustic resonant chamber; a blower for pulling air through the exhaust air channel at an exhaust flow rate; and a blower controller that controls the supply flow rate and the exhaust flow rate, wherein the exhaust flow rate is controlled to match the supply flow rate to within 1%, or to exceed the supply flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: James Douglas Shifley, Rodney Ray Bucks, Thomas Nathaniel Tombs, Andrew Ciaschi
  • Publication number: 20140319722
    Abstract: A method of printing and embossing a receiver is disclosed. The method includes depositing an embossing pattern of embossing particles on the receiver, the embossing pattern having an embossing-pattern thickness corresponding to a fixed stack height of at least 30% of the thickness of the receiver, wherein the embossing particles having average diameters greater than the average diameters of the toner particles of the image toner; pressing the receiver between a hard nip roller and a compliant nip roller, the pressure selected so that with a large enough load so that the embossing pattern permanently deforms the receiver; depositing a pattern of image toner on a first side of the receiver, the image toner including toner particles; and fixing the pattern of image toner onto the receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventor: THOMAS NATHANIEL TOMBS
  • Publication number: 20140319739
    Abstract: A method of printing and embossing a receiver having first and second sides and having a thickness is disclosed. The method includes depositing a pattern of image toner on a first side of a receiver, the image toner including toner particles; fixing the pattern of image toner onto the receiver; depositing an embossing pattern of embossing particles on a side of the receiver, the embossing pattern having an embossing-pattern thickness corresponding to a fixed stack height of at least 30% of the thickness of the receiver, wherein the embossing particles have average diameters greater than the average diameters of the toner particles of the image toner; and pressing the receiver between a hard nip roller and a compliant nip roller, the pressure being selected so that the embossing pattern permanently deforms the receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventor: Thomas Nathaniel TOMBS
  • Publication number: 20140322380
    Abstract: A device for embossing a receiver is disclosed. The device includes a means for depositing an embossing pattern of embossing particles means to press the receiver of receiver between a hard nip roller and a compliant nip roller, the pressure selected so that with a large enough load so that the embossing pattern permanently deforms the receiver; wherein, the embossing pattern consists of a digitally created pattern of embossing toner particles having an embossing-pattern thickness corresponding to a fixed stack height of at least 30% of the thickness of the receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventor: THOMAS NATHANIEL TOMBS
  • Publication number: 20140322645
    Abstract: A method of printing and embossing a receiver is disclosed. The method includes depositing a pattern of image toner on a side of an image bearing receiver, the image toner including toner particles; fixing the pattern of image toner onto the receiver; depositing an embossing pattern of embossing particles on a face of an embossing sheet or web, the embossing pattern having an embossing-pattern thickness corresponding to a fixed stack height of at least 30% of the thickness of the receiver. The embossed particles have an average diameter greater than diameters of the toner particles. Pressing the image bearing receiver and the embossing sheet or web together in a compliant nip, the first side of the receiver facing the face of the embossing sheet or web, the pressure selected so that with a large enough load so that the embossing pattern permanently deforms the receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventor: Thomas Nathaniel TOMBS
  • Patent number: 8864255
    Abstract: Printing methods are provided. In one method, printing an inkjet image using a liquid hydrophilic inkjet ink onto a surface of a semi-absorbent recording medium generating a toner image having toner particles arranged conforming to the inkjet image and transferring the toner image onto the recording medium where an unabsorbed volume of the inkjet ink is present on the recording medium. The toner particles manage unabsorbed volumes of the inkjet ink to protect the recording medium from image artifacts that can be created by an unabsorbed volume of the inkjet ink on the surface without a liquid management toner image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas Nathaniel Tombs, Donald Saul Rimai, Roland Robert Schindler, II
  • Patent number: 8857937
    Abstract: Methods for operating a printing system are provided. In one method, an inkjet image is printed on a receiver using a hydrophilic ink and an image of the receiver is captured after predetermined period of absorption. Local areas of the image of the inkjet print that have reached a threshold level of non-uniform distortion and where additional ink remains for absorption are identified. A distortion estimate is determined for distortion of the receiver at a time when a second image will be printed on the receiver based upon information from the identified areas. A second print image is printed based on the distortion estimate; and, the second image is printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas Nathaniel Tombs, Donald Saul Rimai
  • Patent number: 8849159
    Abstract: A method for forming a tactile printed image on a receiver medium using an electrographic printer, comprising forming a sequence of toner particle images on one or more primary imaging members, the sequence of toner particle images including a plurality of annular shapes having associated inner and outer sizes. The inner and outer sizes of the annular shapes varying in a monotonic sequence, such that when the sequence of toner particle images are transferred in register onto the receiver medium the annular shapes are substantially concentric and overlapping, thereby forming a tactile image feature having a hollow core; which is then fixed to permanently attach the transferred toner particle images to the receiver medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Donald Saul Rimai, Hwai-Tzuu Tai, Thomas Nathaniel Tombs